Shoal Bay Place Plan

Place Plan Shoal Bay

The Shoal Bay Place Plan provides a framework for collaboration between Council, community and business for managing growth to benefit everyone. Adopted April 2024.

Guudji Yiigu

(Goo-jee ik-koo)

We welcome you to Port Stephens – part of the Worimi Aboriginal Nation who speak the Gathang language.

We acknowledge the Worimi as the original Custodians and inhabitants of Port Stephens.

May we walk the road to tomorrow with mutual respect and admiration as we care for the beautiful land and waterways together.

2 Port Stephens Council

What is a Place Plan

Place plans are a way of planning for the growth of our unique towns and villages across Port Stephens. Place plans provide a local filter on the Port Stephens Community Strategic Plan and other important planning documents to create actions which improve the liveability and wellbeing of our communities into the future.

Actions

The actions in our local place plans create alignment in the way we plan for future land use, finance infrastructure, attract investment and bring life to our streets. Place plans recognise the importance of our public spaces in creating great places to live, work and play.

Community

Most importantly, the development of place plans starts with talking to our community. They respond to the community’s aspirations, values and priorities; they enable collaborative partnerships between residents, business and Council to deliver great place outcomes.

4 Port Stephens Council

Our place planning approach

Local values

Through the Port Stephens Liveability Index, we know the values and priorities of our individual communities. This information provides the foundations of our place plans and helps guide planning and decision making across our community.

Start with yes

A culture that supports innovation and ideas is critical to the success of our place plans. By starting with yes, we can encourage new thinking, new ideas and attract more people to share in creating great places.

Test and trial

Great places don’t appear by accident – they take time, effort and a shared understanding that not every project will work every time. By testing and trialling low cost, short term ideas, we learn by doing and create the stepping stones to bigger and better things.

Civic pride

The Port Stephens community is abundant with energy and expertise and people who want to be involved in planning and creating for their place. Place plans provide opportunities for collaboration, foster pride and create meaningful community connection.

Measure and benchmark

When we trial a new idea, launch a new program or invest in our public spaces, we need to understand what works and what doesn’t. Measuring the success of our projects and comparing them to the best possible examples we can find will help build amazing places where people will want to live, work and play.

About Shoal Bay

Exciting things are happening in Shoal Bay!

Shoal Bay is a beautiful coastal town, steeped in Worimi traditions. It has come a long way from its sleepy fishing village beginnings. With its crystal clear waters and pristine beaches, Shoal Bay is a paradise and only a 2.5 hour drive from Sydney and minutes from Nelson Bay, making it easily accessible for visitors.

The natural beauty of the area is unparalleled, with a coastal inlet that is larger than Sydney Harbour and is a popular location for fishing and recreational boating.

Shoal Bay has a rich history dating back thousands of years and has been home to the Worimi Aboriginal people for generations. The spirit of their traditions and history can be felt when exploring this breathtaking area.

In 1934, a local fishing venture decided to build a clubhouse in Shoal Bay, and the area has been developing ever since. During World War II, a garrison was established on Tomaree Headland to defend the entrance to the port and provide amphibious training for U.S. and Australian soldiers.

Today, Shoal Bay and Tomaree Headland are popular destinations, attracting thousands of visitors with their natural beauty and unique history.

The Tomaree Headland Walk, one of the most popular attractions in Port Stephens, offers panoramic views of the coastline and the new Tomaree Coastal Walk is expected to boost the local economy by attracting year round visitation and creating new business opportunities.

Shoal Bay hosts a number of restaurants, cafés and bars, which all contribute to the evening economy – this is particularly evident during the summer months but remains a challenge outside of peak season.

Shoal Bay is a tight-knit community that values its natural assets. The village maintains its charm with a picturesque esplanade, lined with beach-facing shops and restaurants along Shoal Bay Road.

The open space provides a magnificent view of the beach and Tomaree Headland and the overall character of Shoal Bay is highly valued by residents and visitors. The town has a relaxed, coastal vibe, which is influenced by

the natural surroundings and the built-up area of the town center.

The population of Shoal Bay increases dramatically during peak holiday periods. To cater for continued growth and the development into the future, our focus is on enhancing the natural assets, improving pedestrian access, traffic circulation, and drainage infrastructure, and investigating opportunities for new housing.

This Place Plan outlines strategies to manage housing demand and preserve natural beauty in Shoal Bay, while improving residents’ quality of life.

The Transformational Projects map (on page 14) highlights upcoming major projects for the next few years.

As the Shoal Bay community grows and evolves, its needs and expectations change. The Shoal Bay Place Plan is a framework for collaboration between the Council, community, and businesses to manage growth and benefit everyone.

The residents of Shoal Bay are unique. Knowing who they are helps us understand their values and priorities.

Character principles

Shoal Bay has the right mix of transport infrastructure in the right locations to enable a range of options for people to access and move around Shoal Bay.

New development respects the coastal character and village feel that is valued by the community. Building design contributes to an interesting streetscape and provides visual variety.

The highly valued natural environment in Shoal Bay is protected and enhanced.

Local business is supported, and new commercial activity is encouraged to service the local community and tourism.

The foreshore is the centre of activity and a welcoming and vibrant space for locals and visitors.

View corridors are part of what makes Shoal Bay unique; water and hill views will be celebrated.

Safe and accessible pathways create a network for pedestrians and bike riders to key shopping, recreational and beach areas.

Development aims to achieve a neutral or beneficial effect on water quality and no increase in flooding impacts.

Targeted landscaping with species suitable for a coastal environment is used to soften the built environment, create habitat, and reduce urban heat effect.

The topography informs drainage and development opportunities, including maximum building height.

1,815

457 Families

126 Active businesses trading in Shoal Bay*

59

24%

Liveability is simply what a place is like to live in – creating liveable places improves the wellbeing of our communities.

We’ve been listening

The community explored the future of Shoal Bay through an extensive community engagement process. Here’s a snapshot of the Shoal Bay Place Plan Engagement Report.

116 Liveability survey responses

50 Shoal Bay Road survey responses

81 workshop participants

2 stakeholder meetings

44 written submissions

110 visitors to 2 drop-in sessions

6 community workshops

42 check-in survey responses

553 unique comments on survey 27 parking and movement survey responses

What makes Shoal Bay a great place to live?

165 survey responses during exhibition

2 stakeholder briefing sessions

In September 2020, 116 people from Shoal Bay completed the Liveability survey, telling us what they value about their community and their priorities for their place. We used this data to shape the Shoal Bay Place Plan – to set the vision, and define the actions that deliver the best outcomes for the Shoal Bay community. Read more at pscouncil.info/ shoal-bay-place-plan

Key themes

The Liveability survey results indicate that the 6 most important themes of liveability for the people of Shoal Bay are: Environmental sustainability Management and safety Economy Movement and Place Character Public Open Space

8 Port Stephens Council

Most valued

These are the things that are most important to you in your ideal neighbourhood.

Top strengths

These are the things you care about most and you believe are performing well. We’ll continue to celebrate and protect these.

Top priorities

These are the things most important to you, but you believe they’re under performing. We’ll work together to improve these.

Elements of natural environment (natural features, views, vegetation, topography, water, wildlife)

General condition of public open space (street trees, footpaths, parks)

Walking/jogging/bike paths that connect housing to communal amenity

Protection of the natural environment

Sense of neighbourhood safety (from crime, traffic, pollution)

Locally owned and operated businesses

Elements of natural environment (natural features, views, vegetation, topography, water, wildlife)

Local businesses that provide for daily needs (grocery stores, pharmacy, banks)

Access to neighbourhood amenities (cafés, shops, health and wellness services).

Landscaping and natural elements (street trees, planting, water features)

General condition of public open space (street trees, footpaths, parks)

Access and safety of walking, cycling and/or public transport (signage, paths, lighting)

Walking/jogging/bike paths that connect housing to communal amenity

Protection of the natural environment

Sense of neighbourhood safety (from crime, traffic, pollution)

Community engagement

How you value your town centre

Phase 1: Liveability survey and Town Centre survey

Phase 2: Series of workshops with community and businesses and meetings with key stakeholders.

A Town Centre survey for Shoal Bay Road between Government and Tomaree Roads provided place-specific insights into how the community rates the strengths and weaknesses of this area.

After Council invested $800,000 in foreshore improvements, including state-of-the-art toilets, stunning landscaping, and new street furniture, the results were astounding. A follow-up survey revealed that the community rating skyrocketed from 71 out of 100 to a 82 out of 100.

Strengths

Phase 3: Workshops and survey with community and businesses about Land Use and Character, and Parking and Movement.

Phase 4: Draft actions and map tested via survey with workshop participants and key stakeholders.

Phase 5: Public Exhibition of the draft Shoal Bay Place Plan.

Amenities and facilities (toilets, bubblers, parents rooms)

Welcoming to all people

Sense of safety (for all ages, genders, day/night, etc.)

Overall look and visual character of the area

Improvement priorities

Public art, community art, water or light features.

Unusual or unique businesses/shops

Unusual or unique buildings or public space design

Evidence of community activity (community gardening, art, fundraising)

Service businesses (post offices, libraries, banks)

Emerging themes for Shoal Bay

Environmental Sustainability: maintaining the balance

Shoal Bay residents value the spectacular environment they’re surrounded by and prioritise its sustainability. The area’s natural beauty attracts thousands of visitors yearly, making it essential to maintain a balance between development and preservation, especially with challenges like dune and beach erosion. The community has identified steps to ensure long-term protection of their environment through education campaigns, citizen science, signage, trails, and environmental programs.

Management and Safety: safe and comfortable places

Creating a sense of security in a place is everyone’s responsibility. The community, businesses, and Council must work together to create attractive places where people want to spend time. We’ve seen lots of community collaboration in Shoal Bay to improve their place. Residents and business owners can continue to enhance safety by improving shopfronts, keeping areas clean, and installing additional lighting. Council contributes by providing controls for good urban design, maintaining public spaces, and supporting community events.

Economy: creating a vibrant community

Shoal Bay offers a variety of highly valued boutique retail shops, bars, restaurants and cafés, as well as medical providers that service the local community and visitors.

Tourism is important for the town’s economy and creates opportunities for these local businesses. Tourism in Shoal Bay thrives especially in the warmer months, however business will benefit from a reduced reliance on the seasonality of the tourism market.

Tomaree Coastal Walk is now open, offering year-round visitor experiences and business opportunities. However, careful management is necessary to prevent negative impacts on Shoal Bay residents’ quality of life, such as traffic congestion, due to increased visitation.

Port Stephens Council

Movement and Place: making it easier to get around

It’s important that everyone in a community has the ability to move around their neighbourhood with ease, regardless of whether they’re walking, biking, or driving. This is done by promoting safer driving speeds, improving the connectivity of a shared pathway network, and enhancing parking and traffic flow through the implementation of the Smart Parking program.

Shoal Bay is accessed by only one road, which becomes congested during holiday periods. The road’s proximity to the foreshore puts it at risk of coastal erosion and leaves limited space for new pathways, creating emergency management and accessibility issues. It’s important to consider traffic solutions, including an alternate access road.

Public Open Space: create quality open spaces

Shoal Bay offers plenty of open space, from beaches and National Parks to formal parks and playgrounds. These green and clean spaces are perfect for outdoor activities.

Open spaces are essential for community wellbeing, providing places to exercise, relax, play, socialise and connect with nature. When these spaces are accessible and welldesigned, they promote healthier lifestyles, support diversity, and enhance a towns character.

Simple community led placemaking projects like public art, seating, events, or landscaping are one way to improve open spaces.

Character: enhance the look and feel of Shoal Bay

Shoal Bay is a coastal paradise with stunning views, a laid-back holiday vibe, and a unique blend of land, people, built environment, history, culture, and tradition.

The Shoal Bay community cherishes the natural elements, outdoor lifestyle, lightcolored buildings, and nostalgic holiday feel of the area. The character of the place can be affected by the bulk and scale, look and feel, context and height of existing and new developments.

If investigations into the capacity of infrastructure show that new housing is possible, planning controls should be put in place to protect and enhance Shoal Bay’s character while facilitating opportunities for new housing.

Transformational projects

Investigate opportunities for new housing

Harbourside Haven Village

Smart Parking Infrastucture

The Tomaree Coastal Walk

Creation of memorable walking trails

Prioritising pedestrian movement

Navigating the boat ramp

A new future for Tomaree Lodge

Please note: this is a draft map only and doesn’t represent a finalised design.

BEACHRD

Tomaree Headland

Mt Tomaree

Tomaree National Park

Tomaree

Transformational Projects

Shoal Bay projects

The Transformational Projects Map on page 14 outlines the key projects that are planned for Shoal Bay over the next few years. These projects will be developed in partnership with the community.

Investigate opportunities for new housing

Shoal Bay is surrounded by a National Park, which limits the opportunity for new housing beyond the current developed area. However, Shoal Bay remains an attractive location for people wanting to live or invest in the area. To meet the demand for housing and preserve the natural bushland setting, new housing options in Shoal Bay should include diverse choices such as duplexes, granny flats, townhouses, or low and mid-rise apartment buildings.

In order for any new development to take place in Shoal Bay, it’s necessary to have sufficient infrastructure in place. This includes good drainage, access and parking facilities. Through our community consultation, we heard that the community is concerned about

an increase in population while existing infrastructure issues remain unresolved. To ensure that any growth is accompanied by the necessary improvements to infrastructure, we’re committed to making sure that plans for infrastructure delivery are in place, prior to commencing any processes to change planning controls.

We’re currently investigating a drainage solution to determine the capacity of Shoal Bay to accommodate future development. Additionally, we’re investigating ways to improve access and traffic flow in and around Shoal Bay. The results of these investigations will inform how we can best plan for future development.

If the infrastructure planning investigations reveal that there is the possibility of accommodating more diverse housing in Shoal Bay, this Place Plan identifies the investigation areas currently zoned as E1 Local Centre and R3 Medium Density Residential, which already allows for various housing and development options.

This includes the construction of residential flat buildings, serviced apartments, hotels, shops, and restaurants.

Did you know?

The process of changing planning controls starts by identifying an investigation area in a Council strategy, like a place plan. This helps us inform the community about our upcoming work in their area over the next few years.

Next, we perform detailed studies, including infrastructure capacity, to determine whether an area can accommodate additional development.

We then prepare a planning proposal, which is a legislated process that explains in detail the proposed changes to the planning controls contained in a Local Environmental Plan (LEP). Often, a planning proposal is created in conjunction with a Development Control Plan (DCP), which sets out specific requirements to control such things as building design, materials, car parking, solar access, and landscaping.

The current height limits of the buildings in the investigation area are hindering the development of higher densities and not making efficient use of the available space. We’re exploring the possibility of amending the planning controls to increase the housing supply and improve housing affordability.

If the investigations demonstrate that Shoal Bay can handle additional housing, we’ll engage with the community during the planning proposal process and create a Development Control Plan that enhances the things you love about Shoal Bay.

The housing crisis is a challenge that’s being faced across the state. Housing supply, affordability, and diversity are all affected. We’re actively exploring various options to support the community now and plan for the future. The Local Housing Strategy identifies areas in Port Stephens where there are opportunities for continued growth to cater for the projected population growth of an additional 20,000 people over the next 20 years. These growth areas are not limited to Shoal Bay.

Harbourside Haven Village

Harbourside Haven Village provides residential aged care options for seniors in our community. The long-term continuity of this service is important, particularly as our population continues to age.

There may be opportunity to redevelop this site to increase capacity, which will provide additional dwellings and a greater variety of housing choice, enabling people to age in place. It’s envisaged that building heights will be greater at the rear of the site, and taper down towards the front. Planning controls will also be investigated to ensure that any proposed redevelopment makes a positive statement at this prominent gateway location. The community will be consulted on any proposed changes through the planning proposal process.

The Tomaree Coastal Walk

The new Tomaree Coastal Walk project promotes a 27 kilometre coastal walk from Tomaree Head to Birubi Point. The project caters for a range of visitor experiences from short walks to half or multi-day options.

Tomaree Headland is one of the most significant features of the walk and is the official starting point. Part of the Worimi Aboriginal cultural landscape, the area is steeped in history as it also displays the rich WWII heritage of Tomaree Head. Visitors can experience whales, wildflowers and abundant wildlife that attract thousands of visitors each year.

This new nature based experience is expected to drive increased visitation during low and shoulder peak periods, offering great opportunity for new and existing business.

Creation of memorable walking trails

Shoal Bay is a hotspot for visitors and locals of all ages, who can be found walking, running, cycling and exploring this beautiful natural playground at all times of the year. While there are some missing links, Shoal Bay is generally well connected

by shared pathways from both Nelson Bay and Fingal Bay.

There may be options for a continuous waterfront pathway from Shoal Bay through to Nelson Bay, creating a meandering trail along the coast. Extending the Coastal Walk with a shared path network from Shoal Bay to Nelson Bay, via Little Beach, is the first stage. The design work has commenced to fill in the missing pathway links and has been funded by an Active Transport Grant.

Smart Parking infrastructure

We know that finding a car park in Shoal Bay during peak times can be difficult. To address this, Smart Parking has been rolled out throughout the town centre. This both improves parking in the area by supporting the turnover of parking spaces, but also generates revenue that will be reinvested in Shoal Bay. An example is the car park upgrades on the corner of Shoal Bay Road and Government Road. Refer to page 25 for more information about the program and potential future infrastructure projects.

ANZAC Park

It was great to hear the community speak up about the improvements they’d like to see in Anzac Park. Although it’s not identified on the project map or in the actions, we’re working in the background to determine the best way forward.

Prioritising pedestrian movement

Pedestrian friendly spaces are walkable, accessible and vibrant. Pedestrians need to be able to safely move at their own pace with an opportunity to stop and spend time enjoying their surrounds.

The mix of accommodation and the appeal of the beach, shops and restaurants make the footpath along Shoal Bay Road a particularly busy and sometimes congested space. While various means of transport need to coexist, in areas like these pedestrians should have a clear priority over cars.

We’ll investigate and trial ways to reduce the dominance of cars in this area and make it more pleasant for pedestrians. This could be achieved by reducing speed, implementing shared zones, or by introducing a one way option in the Shoal Bay town centre. Improvements in traffic flow, additional car parking and providing more space for bikes and pedestrians will require longer term planning.

Navigating the boat ramp

Due to its proximity to Tomaree and Yacaaba Heads, the Shoal Bay boat ramp is a very popular launching location for people to boat, fish, paddle, jet ski or canoe. The boat ramp can become very congested during peak holiday periods and cars illegally park in areas located for trailer parking.

Smart Parking in this area will support the turnover of parking spaces and reduce the incorrect use of parking bays. Revenue generated from parking will be invested into the redesign of the carpark, the formalisation of parking spaces and an upgrade to the existing amenities.

A new future for Tomaree Lodge

The Tomaree Lodge site was, until recently, a residential centre for people with disability. The site and surrounding areas are highly valued by the community. It has both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage value, high ecological value and forms part of the Shoal Bay open space network. It’s also a stunningly beautiful location at the base of Tomaree Mountain, with views inward toward Nelson Bay, across to Tea Gardens and out towards Broughton Island.

The NSW Government has committed to retaining the Tomaree Lodge site in public hands for future community and recreational use only. We’ll continue to advocate that these uses need to be respectful of the historical and environmental importance of the site, accessible to the entire community, and safe in design. A sustainable operating model needs to ensure a high quality community and visitor experience.

We’ve advocated for the NSW Government to provide details on the potential use of the site to understand the site’s constraints and opportunities and will continue to engage with the Government on the future of this important site.

Community input into options for the site was provided during the engagement for this Place Plan. This information will be included as discussions with State Government progress.

A shared responsibility for our place

Residents

Residents make an important contribution to their place through individual or collective efforts. The impact on the look and feel of a place is through the diversity of people; their rich heritage, lived experience and their sense of ownership of public and private space. Place making activities are developed in partnership with the residents and consider the cultural values with the Traditional Owners of the Land, the Worimi people.

Local workers

Local workers contribute to a place in many ways, and have a connection to a place even if they don’t live there. Their presence activates a place and makes it vibrant and they support local business. Some workers even volunteer their time to activities that improve the place.

Visitors

Visitors and tourists, including day trippers, overnight visitors, or those just passing through, play an important role in a place. They provide a customer base that may result in new local business like cafés and restaurants, or key attractions that also benefit residents by offering a larger variety of things to see and do.

Business

responsibilities with opportunities for partnerships

Businesses have many opportunities to contribute to placemaking. These could include funding and supporting community projects, collaborating with other businesses, sharing resources or training local workers. Businesses make a vital contribution to the character of the place. Maintaining an attractive shopfront that presents positively to the streetscape contributes to an appealing and welcoming town centre.

Port Stephens Council

Council has 4 different roles in implementing place plans – as a coordinator by providing guidance and assistance for a project; as a supporter by providing permission, inspiration or project funding; as a partner that works with community groups and business to undertake projects; or as the primary organisation that funds and delivers the project.

Investors and developers

A town or city needs people and organisations that believe in its potential, and who are able to invest in its future. Investors, including families, businesses, and developers play an active role in ensuring that development aligns with the strategic direction of a place. They’re in a position to deliver and maintain housing, infrastructure, and business opportunities that improve and grow places.

Community groups and volunteers

Community groups and volunteers with a can-do and proactive attitude are vital for placemaking projects. They include sporting clubs, schools, charities, churches, clubs, social groups and environmental custodians. Community groups and volunteers contribute significantly to their community.

State Government

State Government has 3 roles in placemaking – as an authority, a strategic visionary and a funding body. Importantly, they have a significant role in the management of roads and other infrastructure, parks and heritage, which are all essential contributors to the identity of a place.

Working together

Creating great places requires a collaborative approach and ownership from all those that live, work and play in the place. By working together we can harness people-power to achieve more, and best of all, create lasting connections that improve liveability and increase the wellbeing of the Shoal Bay community.

Town Teams

Town Teams are a group of positive and proactive people that work collaboratively to improve a place or area. The Town Team model is inclusive and open to everyone –businesses, residents, community groups and anyone keen to have a go.

Talk to us about how you can join Shoal Bay’s Town Team and connect with other ambitious community members to start delivering outcomes for Shoal Bay.

22 Port Stephens Council

Creating better places and spaces in Shoal Bay

What projects are in the pipeline for Shoal Bay?

In the next 5 years, we expect a range of projects, as shown on the map, to commence. These projects will improve liveability in Shoal Bay and include improvements or replacement of existing roads, additional pedestrian and cycle infrastructure, gutters, drainage improvements and recreational facilities.

We’ve already started to budget for these projects and you can find more detail in our Resourcing Strategy, Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan and Projects and Works page on Council’s website at portstephens.nsw.gov.au

Smart Parking infrastructure

The ease of parking has been an ongoing priority for residents and visitors to Shoal Bay, particularly during the busy school holiday periods. We’ve implemented a Smart Parking program to reduce congestion, increase parking turnover, and gain revenue to reinvest back into priority projects for Shoal Bay.

The program is supported by an Infrastructure Plan which was prepared in consultation with the community. It details how money generated through Smart Parking will be spent on infrastructure projects in Shoal Bay as shown on the Creating better places and spaces map. Revenue also supports place activation programs, like events. More information about the Smart Parking program for Shoal Bay is available on Council’s website at pscouncil.info/smart-parking-shoal-bay

Other potential future projects

Potential future projects shown on the map represent opportunities to deliver desired outcomes for Shoal Bay, but these projects aren’t yet funded in our work program. There’s many other ways to deliver these outcomes – such as through grant funding secured by either Council or community groups, fundraising by individuals or charity groups, donations or sponsorship by businesses, or through voluntary planning agreements with developers.

Creating better places and spaces map

Smart Parking Infrastructure Projects

2026

3 Messines Street. Kerb and gutter south side from Government Road to Rigney Street. 2028

4 Shoal Bay Road (east of town centre near boat ramp). Carpark redesign and formalisation. 2028

5 Bernie Thompson Park at Government Road. Carpark formalisation (access

Rigney Street. Pavement reconstruction, kerb & gutter and, if possible, a footpath from Fingal Street to Messines Street. 2027

2 Tomaree Road. Pavement rehabilitation, kerb & gutter and footpath construction from Verona Road to Messines Street. 2026 3 Tomaree Road. Pavement reconstruction, kerb & gutter and footpath construction from Rigney Street to Marine Drive. 2029

Major augmentation of trunk drainage system to the Shoal Bay Beach outlet and improvement to existing drainage system. Location to be confirmed

4 Beach Road. Shared path from Harwood Avenue to Shoal Bay Road. 2029

5 Shoal Bay Road. Shared path from Beach Road to end of existing path. 2029 6 Rigney Street. New drainage system and kerb and guttering in front of 55 Rigney Street to Fingal Street. 2027

Projects for investigation

Foreshore area. Implementation of projects of the foreshore

Exercise Gym/Equipment.

Improvements to the street drainage system with kerb and guttering.

1 Shoal Bay Road, eastern end. Upgrade multiple beach access points (path to beach). 2023

Shoal Bay Road. Replacement of public amenities near the boat ramp. 2024

Please note: Timing, funding or locations

Look and feel for Shoal Bay

Creating an attractive streetscape brings people into town and compels people to stay and linger. The use of a consistent colour palette and materials can help to create a beautiful town with its own, unique ‘look and feel’.

Small projects such as shop front renovations, fence replacements and street furniture may all present opportunities to create a more cohesive town centre and a sense of belonging to the community.

The colour palette represents the many attributes of Shoal Bay and celebrates the outstanding natural beauty of the broader Port Stephens East Ward region.

Blue for the dazzling clear skies that reach from the horizon up over the bay.

C: 44% M: 0% Y: 10% K: 0%

R: 91 G: 208 B: 230

Hex: 5BD0E6

Turquoise for the pristine waters of the bay and lapping waves along the shoreline.

C: 66% M: 5% Y: 35% K: 0%

R: 76 G: 183 B: 177

Hex: 4CB7B1

Deep green for the native bushland around the bay and reaching up Tomaree Head.

C: 91% M: 44% Y: 66% K: 35%

R: 0 G: 86 B: 78

Hex: 00554D

Grey for the resident dolphins and the pods of migrating whales.

C: 78% M: 59% Y: 48% K: 29%

R: 67 G: 81 B: 92

Hex: 43515C

Coral pink for the incredible marine creatures and the vibrant Gymea Lilies.

C: 6% M: 63% Y: 42% K: 0%

R: 229 G: 125 B: 124

Hex: E57D7C

Sandy white for the glittering sand, white boats and business frontages of the friendly Shoal Bay village.

C: 3% M: 4% Y: 9% K: 0%

R: 244 G: 240 B: 228

Hex: F4F0E4

Sandstone for the sandy shores of the East Ward and coastal parts of Port Stephens.

A vibrant Shoal Bay

Test and Trial

Taking on the ‘lighter, quicker, cheaper approach’ is a great way to tackle really complex problems in a place. It allows testing before spending big budgets on projects and allows Council and the community to understand what works and what does not work. This approach can also help with the temporary and seasonal use of sites that may underutilised. These projects are easy to remove, low-budget and engaging, think – temporary infrastructure (seats, planting), planting, temporary parks, pop up shops and play spaces.

Our incredible Place

Open spaces can be transformed by events – attracting visitors, creating community connections and supporting local business during low and shoulder seasons. Events can range from artisan markets to sporting events, environmental activities or music – in Shoal Bay the stunning water and natural landscape naturally attract water based events. There is opportunity across the foreshore and open spaces to expand the current event program by supporting new events that celebrate the unique cultural and environmental elements of Shoal Bay.

Active day and night!

Shoal Bay’s mix of restaurants, bars and cafés creates opportunities for a vibrant night life. To increase the value of the night time economy, we need to find solutions for improved lighting, access and safety. We need to encourage people to come out for an evening, find ways to encourage them to stay, and create spaces that are safe and accessible for all.

This may include street entertainment and music, evening events, street theatre, new lighting installations, safe zones or even incentives for business looking to expand their opening hours into the evening.

28 Port Stephens Council

Activating our streetscape

Shopfronts and the space in front of our local businesses are an important element of the Shoal Bay streetscape. An integrated and attractive streetscape is achieved when business work together with community and Council to create spaces that attract people and encourage them to linger longer. Activities could include planting and greening projects, seating, artwork, performance, shop displays, façade upgrades and even interesting signage.

Paint me a Picture

Art is an excellent way to both brighten a place but also celebrate the important stories of that place. The unique stories of Shoal Bay include those from our first people – the Worimi, the stunning natural environment, the wartime history of Tomaree headland and the fishing industries that grew from this unique landscape. Art in Shoal Bay can be expressed in endless ways –murals, asphalt art, sculpture, lighting installations and trails, for example.

What can we do?

Creating vibrancy in our town centres and public spaces requires a collaborative approach. It needs shared ownership and action from business, the community and Council to create places that are resilient, welcoming and inclusive. Place activation is not about big budgets and big infrastructure, it’s about creating unique and innovative experiences and testing new ideas. This approach connects local identity both through the built form of the place and the programming of the space. Did you know?

Did you know that Council offers a range of funding streams for our community to create vibrant places and improve the liveability of their town? Visit our website to find out more portstephens.nsw.gov.au

Actions

Timeframe

This Place Plan has a planning horizon of 5 years. Timeframes denote when delivery of an action is expected to start.

Short term – 0 to 2 years

Lead

Each action will be lead by Council or a specific group associated with the action.

Council role

Medium term – 2 to 4 years

Long term – 4 to 5+ years

Cost

Cost indicates whether an action is a relatively cheap or a costly undertaking.

Shoal Bay’s Liveability Index results have inspired a series of action items. Port Stephens Council has has 4 possible roles in delivering these actions:

• Coordinate – As a coordinator, we’ll provide guidance on how to start your project, help by identifying approvals required, advise you about funding opportunities, get you in touch with other organisations, or advocate for your project.

• Support – As a supporter, we may provide support, permission, inspiration or funding.

• Deliver – In delivering, we’ll fund and deliver the project.

• Partner – As a partner, we’ll work with the community, business, developers, and state agencies to undertake projects or programs.

Emerging themes

The Liveability survey results indicate that the 6 most important themes of liveability for the people of Shoal Bay are:

Public Open Space

Please note: Cost estimates and delivery timeframes are indicative only and subject to further investigation. The order for commencement of actions is flexible and will be based on timing and availability of funding and resources, and community initiative.

1. Caring for the local environment

We know that residents in Shoal Bay want to see more native gardens between the boat ramp and Tomaree Lodge. We also know that there is a strong interest from residents in understanding the type of plants they can use in their own backyards to help the local environment.

Environmental volunteering is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, to create new connections and to contribute to your local community. Residents and business are encouraged to think outside the box and work with us to understand the possibilities. Ideas could include maintaining native vegetation in reserves and along the foreshore, undertaking weed control, creating native gardens along pathways, planting street trees, establishing garden beds or starting a pot plant collection in public spaces.

The Shoal Bay Beach Preservation Committee encourages volunteers to assist with monthly working bees on the dunes and parkland adjacent to Shoal Bay Beach. We also provide grants to community groups and business to implement projects to support the local environment.

Residents can enhance the vibrancy of Shoal Bay through improving vegetation at their own properties or by planting in the verge in front of their properties with native, edible or rain gardens.

We’ll develop resources to outline how you can improve your verge, the type of plants you can use and any approvals that may be required.

Cost Timeframe

Lead: Community Council role: Support

2. Maintaining the balance

One of the most effective ways to protect the natural environment is through education. By building an understanding of why Shoal Bay is so unique and how we can all work together to protect the local environment, there will be a greater chance of ensuring long-term sustainability. Education programs might include interpretative signage along the foreshore highlighting simple ways to protect our waterways, reduce our impact on coastal vegetation or minimise waste. Information could be provided on the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park, the Tomaree National Park and how our everyday behaviour can affect these important assets.

We collaborate with our volunteer network to provide a diverse range of environmental education programs. We have received feedback that the community has a keen interest in participating and gaining knowledge about our natural environment. We’ll explore opportunities for expanding environmental education programs in the region, and will deliver them as part of community events and in collaboration with local volunteer groups.

Events can also be a very effective education tool – building on existing events like World Environment Day or World Oceans Day or creating new events like beach clean-up days, creating fun and engaging way to educate people of all ages on how they can protect this precious place.

Community Groups are encouraged to contact us about the Port Stephens Environmental Projects grant. This fund is designed to support initiatives that improve biodiversity and sustainability, protect local ecosystems, encourage student participation and educate our community. We can also provide advice on accessing sponsorship through local business to support your initiative.

We’ll continue to work closely with National Parks, the Port Stephens – Great Lakes Marine Park, residents and business to develop interpretative signage in locations with high visitation.

Cost Timeframe

Lead: Community Council role: Support

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3. Protecting our precious coastline

Beachfront stabilisation is required to prevent dune and beach erosion along the Shoal Bay foreshore. The right stabilisation will ensure ongoing and safe access to the beach and public spaces and the protection of public infrastructure like roads, paths, steps, boat launch facilities and seating.

Across NSW, all coastal Councils are required to develop a Coastal Management Program (CMP). This document sets the long-term strategy for managing our coast. It identifies risks to the coastline and sets out actions to manage and mitigate these risks now and into the future.

The Port Stephens CMP will be critically important to the protection of the Shoal Bay foreshore and dune system. In partnership with the community, we’ll prioritise actions to protect Shoal Bay’s coastline,

beaches and infrastructure. Actions to be investigated include rehabilitation of native vegetation, sand back passing (where we recycle sand that has moved), and dune stabilisation methods.

Degraded areas could be revegetated with plants and trees while existing vegetation could be better protected by the use of appropriate barriers that encourage pedestrians to use designated pathways. For us to access funding to support all these actions, they must be included in the CMP. For more information about the CMP, visit Council’s website at pscouncil.info/cmp

Cost Timeframe

Lead: Council Council role: Deliver / Coordinate

Shoal Bay Place

4. Establish a Town Team

Town Teams are positive and proactive “doers” who work collaboratively with Council to improve a place. Town Teams are inclusive – they include residents, businesses, existing community groups or anyone interested in improving their place. The Town Team model also provides support to existing community groups who align with the Town Team Charter through provision of resources, education and funding support.

Shoal Bay already has a strong group of volunteers committed to improving their place – Town Teams won’t replace these important community groups but provide additional support and more opportunities to work collaboratively on placemaking projects.

5. Spotlight on Shoal Bay

The creative use of lighting is an effective way to encourage people to visit a place during the evening. Good lighting improves safety and visibility and makes people of all ages feel more comfortable about going out at night.

Shoal Bay has an opportunity to create a place that attracts people to its cafés, restaurants and foreshore year round. Creative projects like adding festoon lighting in public spaces, installing temporary lighting installations on footpaths and buildings, and showcasing events which feature lighting, can support the evening economy by increasing the ambience of a place and extending dining and trading hours.

Improving lighting within pedestrian corridors, from parking areas to the commercial centre and foreshore increases safety and accessibility.

Lighting can also be used to highlight important architectural features and landmarks such as the Shoal Bay Jetty, trees on the foreshore or in the village square. All lighting needs to consider the impact on residents, business, the night sky and the natural environment. The use of sustainable options like solar should also be investigated.

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6. Navigating the boat ramp

Smart Parking will support the turnover of parking and reduce the incorrect use of parking bays around the boat ramp. Revenue generated from Smart Parking will be reinvested into the redesign of the boat ramp carpark, which will include the formalisation of parking spaces and an upgrade to the existing amenities.

7. Help keep it clean and tidy

Shoal Bay residents place high value on the visual appeal of their place. Maintaining a clean and tidy town that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors is everyone’s responsibility.

The community and businesses could come together by joining the annual Clean up Australia Day event. You could also connect to other organisations like Good for the Hood and Take 3 for the Sea to implement programs that reduce the impact of rubbish in Shoal Bay.

Another simple way to keep the place clean is to report what you see. Council’s Report, Request and Forms service allows you

to submit an issue anywhere, anytime at pscouncil.info/ReportAndRequest

By using this tool, a detailed report will be generated directly into our system and allow us to manage the issue more efficiency and effectively.

If you’d like to find out more about clean up days or connecting with organisations to support this, we can get you started or put you in touch with other like-minded people. Our Waste Team also provide a number of educational programs and resources that may also help you start your next beautification project.

8. Village noticeboard

A community noticeboard provides a way for the community to know what is going on in their place. We heard that at times, the Shoal Bay community find it hard to access information and feel that they miss out on opportunities to participate and contribute.

There are many ways to create a community noticeboard – it could be a digital noticeboard hosted via social media or a physical noticeboard on the wall in the village square . This could be developed and managed through a local community group or business. We also provide information on events, projects and engagement opportunities through social media, digital newsletter, website and printed

newsletters. We’ll continue to work on ways to increase the distribution of the Your Port newsletter and other information to ensure it reaches as many in Shoal Bay as possible.

Destination Port Stephens provides regular updates via their newsletters and social media channels to entice and communicate with visitors, providing information on what’s on, access to visitor services, as well encouraging visitors to help look after our special places when they visit.

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The new Tomaree Coastal Walk caters for a range of visitor experiences from short walks to half or multi-day options.

The new walk will help support a year round visitor economy, increase jobs and reduce the impacts of seasonal fluctuations. We’ll promote the wide range of resources created by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), while also communicating new opportunities that emerge for local business. We’ll also monitor additional visitation to ensure appropriate management of any negative impacts such as rubbish, waste, graffiti and overcrowding.

Opportunities for transport links from accommodation providers will reduce parking demands. The impact on public amenities and other facilities will also be reviewed on a regular basis. We’ll seek feedback from local residents on their experience with the new walk to support these reviews.

Events are an important element of vibrant communities – they can bring a community to life, create social connections and support business growth. You’ll find inspiring examples on page 28 of this place plan.

We’re focused on finding the balance –attracting events that recognise the character of the place, bring business during times of low visitation and those that respect our precious environment are key. Supporting community events is also a focus of ours. Through revenue generated from Smart Parking, we’ll ensure that Shoal Bay is part of the ‘It’s On!’ scheduled

activation program, which celebrates and promotes music, art, food, nature, health, and other community friendly activities.

If you have ideas for what types of activities you’d like to see or if you would like to run an event yourself, contact our Vibrant Places team. We have a range of event resources and we can talk about permits or funding options through the Community Grants program.

9. The Tomaree Coastal Walk

10. It’s On – events and activation

11. Prioritising pedestrian movement 12. Promoting walkability and connection

Over the next few years, revenue generated from Smart Parking in Shoal Bay will be reinvested into the local community to make further improvements. These funds may be used for upgrades to car parks and local roads and projects that improve pedestrian movement. We’ll be trialling and testing a range of measures that could improve both traffic flow and prioritise pedestrians in some areas.

Prior to these works commencing, we’ll engage with the community to gain their feedback on any changes. For more information on these projects and for your chance to get involved, we encourage people to visit council’s website at pscouncil.info/smart-parking-shoal-bay

Shoal Bay can leverage off the opportunities created by the Tomaree Coastal Walk by creating a unique waterfront walk that goes from Shoal Bay to Nelson Bay.

Extending the Coastal Walk with a shared path network from Shoal Bay to Nelson Bay, via Little Beach, is the first stage. Funding from the Active Transport Grant scheme supports the design work, which has commenced to fill in the missing pathway links.

Mid-point and end of trip facilities such as bike parking areas, seating, viewing platforms and water bottle filling stations should also be included. Signage will encourage hikers to continue their Coastal Walk experience

throughout Port Stephens and there is opportunity to create interesting wayfinding signage to encourage users to stop along the track and learn something new about the area.

A hop on/off bus service could get people from Shoal Bay town centre to key points along the walk and other town centres. Community groups, clubs or tourism businesses can consider the feasibility of providing such a service.

Lead: Council Council role: Deliver

Lead: Council Council role: Deliver

13. Better access to Shoal Bay

We understand that during peak holiday season, the roads and public parking areas in Shoal Bay can become congested, causing inconvenience to visitors and locals alike. To address this issue, solutions are being explored to improve traffic flow, provide better emergency access, create more space for pathways along the foreshore, and address concerns related to coastal erosion. Furthermore, access to the holiday park is also being improved.

We’re working closely with the State Government, Transport for NSW, National Parks & Wildlife Service, and other key stakeholders and landholders to investigate potential locations, options, funding, and the feasibility of alternative access into Shoal Bay.

This is a long-term project and we’re committed to reducing congestion in the area and improving traffic movement and emergency response.

Cost Timeframe

Lead: Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Transport for NSW Council role: Partner

14. Building better business

Facilitating better business stimulates the economy and provides additional value for residents and visitors alike. Pop up shops and temporary business provide an opportunity for new ideas to be tested and trialled – they can quickly fill empty retail spaces, with the agreement of the property owner, and increase vibrancy of a retail centre.

Our commercial operators policy provides an opportunity to set up temporary or pop up style trial businesses. These could support nature based pursuits, be it food or activity focused pursuits. Ideas could include renting bushwalking and beach equipment, providing maps as well as selling food, drink and souvenirs, all of which contributes to the village look and feel of this coastal place.

15. Investigate opportunities for new housing

Shoal Bay is surrounded by National Parks and to increase housing supply and diversity, we need to find opportunities on land that is already developed to provide housing. However, any new development in Shoal Bay is contingent on the availability of sufficient infrastructure such as good drainage, traffic, and parking facilities. To ensure that any growth is accompanied by necessary infrastructure improvements, we’re committed to ensuring that plans for infrastructure delivery are in place. This will help us plan for the future of Shoal Bay effectively.

We’ll conduct infrastructure planning investigations to determine if there’s capacity for increased and more diverse housing in Shoal Bay. If there is, we’ll consider amending planning controls to increase housing supply through the planning proposal process. This process will include further consultation with the community.

Community Council role: Coordinate

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16. Defining Shoal Bay’s character

The community highly values the existing character of Shoal Bay. If infrastructure investigations demonstrate that Shoal Bay can handle additional housing, we’ll engage with the community during the planning proposal process and create a Development Control Plan that enhances the things you love about Shoal Bay.

This new DCP is to guide the design of new developments through a wide range of provisions for landscaping, design and articulation, car parking, storm water and drainage infrastructure and floor space ratios. In partnership with the community, we will also investigate if this DCP can include provisions for undergrounding of power lines, improving pathways or providing public access to key locations like the foreshore.

17. Increased capacity for Harbourside Haven Village

In order to enable additional dwellings and housing choice for all stages of life, there may be opportunity for Harbourside Haven Village to increase their capacity by enabling the site to achieve higher densities.

Council will work with the landholder to investigate options of increasing building heights and to create planning controls that ensure the potential redevelopment makes a positive statement at this prominent gateway location. Council will continue to liaise with the landholder on this matter.

18. Activating your public space

Activating public spaces creates opportunities for connection, beautification and builds community pride. Murals, sculptures, landscaping and installations create a sense of place and can help reinforce the character of Shoal Bay. Public art helps to create a more attractive environment for visitors – it can reflect cultural experience and solidify local identity.

Business and community can be involved in the creation of temporary exhibitions or host art classes in public spaces – you don’t have to be an expert! Community groups or your local Town Team could also run an art competition, sponsor or facilitate activities or even hold a specific arts event or festival.

Business and property owners in Shoal Bay have a unique ability to effect the look and feel of the Shoal Bay village. By improving shopfronts, adding some seating and plants to the front of businesses, we can improve the sense of place and create a more vibrant place for locals and visitors to connect, shop and be entertained.

In the right place, we can also enhance the shopping and dining experience through small-scale projects, which could include creative street furniture or mini market days.

We provides a number of grant programs to support activations, events and business improvement. Talk to our Vibrant Places Team for more information.

19. A new future for Tomaree Lodge

The State Government is looking into the potential of the Tomaree Lodge site for future community and recreational uses. We’re ready to collaborate alongside community groups and the Government to achieve the best community outcomes.

We’ll continue to advocate that the future uses of the site be respectful of the historical and environmental importance of the site, accessible to the entire community, and safe in design. A sustainable operating model needs to ensure a high quality community and visitor experience.

We’ll also continue to engage with the Government for an outcome that will retain public access, and acceptable levels of infrastructure.

Lead: Community and Business Council role: Support

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Lead: Council Council role: Partner

council@portstephens.nsw.gov.au | 02 4988 0255 | portstephens.nsw.gov.au